Olga HAMAR
The 200 years old farmhouse garden
Garden of the Year 2009 – Award of Special Merit

(Summary)

My clients’ nearly 200 years old farmhouse and its 3300 m2 plot are situated on the North shore of Lake Balaton. The house was enlarged and restored to its former beauty; however it kept its thatched roof and farmhouse style. Our main design aim was to use natural materials as much as it was possible in a natural way. Two rockery gardens were built on both side of the house where we planted the most common culinary herbs; this is also the part of the garden where the owners’ cacti collection takes place.

The new garden’s most dominant element is the pond. We wanted to find the most natural position for the pond; hence it is situated at the lowest point of the garden where an even surface could have been obtained. This situation gives a chance of a beautiful view over the pond from the rest of the garden. Along the fence lines and bordering the open lawn areas we created meandering flowerbeds with heavy planting. We used a lot of evergreen plants, flowering shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Under the fruit trees some 2000 spring bulbs were planted, mainly dwarf tulips, which are the pride and joy of the neighbourhood at springtime.